Climbing the Obelisk: The Trajectories of Five Women Economists in Colombia, ca. 1950–70

Abstract

This article explores the trajectories of the first Colombian women economists. It sheds light on how differences between women's and men's experiences structured the process of becoming and working as economists and more generally the professional development of economics in the country. The article focuses on the trajectories of five women who graduated between the 1950s and the early 1970s and who had exceptionally successful careers. It shows how the late professionalization of economics in Colombia and access to international credentials created specific opportunities and challenges for women economists. During their professional trajectory, the group of women who constitute the focus group of this article resorted to a mix of professional strategies, which included mobilizing resources by securing the support of male figures, such as fathers and mentors; striking a balance between showing an intrepid character and developing a sense of pragmatism; and delegating part of the care and domestic tasks that were expected from them as wives and mothers to other women less endowed with economic, social, and academic capital.